Virginia's Purple Star Schools

By: Craig Richards

Frequent Moves and Challenges for Military Families

The average military family moves every 1-3 years. That results in the average school-aged military-connected child experiencing between six and nine different schools throughout their K-12 education experience, according to the Department of Defense. These mobile military students face a plethora of challenges including varying curriculum gaps, graduation requirements, variations in courses, and especially changes in their social groups.

The Impact of PCS on Education

Facing a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order, families face a great deal of disruption in their daily life– possibly none as difficult as the children’s educational environments. But one program has proven to be a key asset in reducing the burden and stress in these changing times in Virginia– Purple Star Schools. For those at Fort Gregg-Adams, several schools in Prince George County hold the Virginia Department of Education’s Purple Star Designation for Excellence. All five of the Prince George County district’s elementary schools are designated Purple Star Schools by the VDOE and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

What is the Virginia Purple Star Designation?

The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award receive a special Purple Star recognition to display onsite.

Requirements for the Purple Star Award

For a school to receive the Purple Star Award, they must staff a Point of Contact (POC) for military families and students who serves as the primary link between the military families and the school. This POC must also complete specific training provided by the VDOE that teaches best methods for supporting military-connected children in the school setting.

In addition to having a trained POC, a school must meet a certain set of requirements to be honored with the Purple Star Award. First, the school’s POC must create and conduct a professional development program for staff that informs them of the unique needs of military-connected students and of support systems available to these students.

The school district’s website must also contain or link to a page dedicated to military student and family support. Through this web page, the district should provide information on preparing for arrival to or departure from the district, academic planning, special education, parental rights, and any other key information that families may need.

In addition to these requirements, the school district must have a central office contact for families and each school’s POC, and maintain a student-led transition program that provides peer support for newly enrolled and withdrawing students.

Learn More

For more detail on the Virginia Purple Star program, requirements for awards, and a list of designated schools, visit the VDOE website at www.doe.virginia.gov and search Purple Star.

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